Machine for conveying and closing cartons



2 Sheets-Sheet l s Q W3 N K w Q Q? 33 5 wh X 5 3 J JHMF W 1-\\ INVENTOR.ef/e/ dafl @jga k/fi aa 1953 R- c. STENGER MACHINE FOR CONVEYING ANDCLOSING CARTONS Filed Sept. 2, 1949 0a. 13, 1953 R STEN E 2,654,981

MACHINE FOR CONVEYING AND CLOSING CARTONS Filed Sept, 2, 1949 v 2Sheets-Sheet 2 m 750 34 7 J7 54 I0 2155 4 .47 I

j INVENTOR.

. jar ,5 /7/Z%/r z/f BY Patented Oct. 13,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR CONVEYING AND CLOSING CARTONSRichard C. Stenger, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Sutherland PaperCompany, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationSeptember 2, 1949, Serial No. 113,716

8 Claims. (01. 53-145) v This invention relates to improvements in amachine for conveying and closing cartons.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a machine for closing cartons,

covers hingedly connected to the rear walls and provided with tuckingflaps which is eificient and of large capacity.

Third, to provide a machine having these advantages with a conveyeradapted to positively position the cartons and convey them with a;

15 chines for closing covered cartons having other step by stepmovement, holding the covers open to facilitate the placing ofmerchandise such as pies, cakes or the like in the cartons.

Fourth, to provide a machine of this character which may be associatedwith a carton erecting machine to receive the erected cartons therefrom.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a machine embodying my invention,parts being broken away for convenience in illustration, and only suchportions of a carton erecting machine being illustrated as deemednecessary to show the operative structure of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in longitudinal section ona line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 4, the top flap folders beingshown in retracted position by full lines and in fully actuated positionby dotted lines, a cover being shown in its relation to the top flapfolders by full lines and in its relation to the cover closing member inclosed position by full lines and in open position by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in vertical section on aline corresponding to line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section on a linecorresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 1 with the cover closing member shownin fully actuated position by full lines and in retracted position bydotted lines.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a linecorresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing details of the mainconveyer.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view mainly in section 2 on a line correspondingto line 6--6 of Fig. 1 showing details of the carton feed conveyer.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a suitable frame,designated generally by the numeral I, and provided with a table or top2. 3 represents a carton erecting machine for the cartons designatedgenerally by the numeral 4, and comprising a bottom 5, end walls 6provided with top flaps 1, front wall 8, and a rear wall 9 having acover In hingedly connected to its rear wall, the cover being providedwith a tucking flap H. The cover illustrated is of the window type.

My invention may be readily embodied in mastructural features ordiifering in structure from that described. The main conveyer is adaptedto receive cartons from a feed conveyor or auxiliary conveyer andtranslate them with a step .by step or intermittent movement through theclosing mechanism which is entirely automatic in its operation. Thecartons illustrated are designed to receive pies 12 which are placed inthe open cartons in advance of the cover closing mechanism. The mainconveyer comprises a slide way l3 provided with side bars 14. In thestructure illustrated, the way is formed of angle iron elements l5disposed in upward and inwardly facing relation and. spaced to provide alongitudinal slot [6. The conveyer chain I! is provided with flightcarrying links I8 which project through the slot. The flights l9 haverearwardly projecting base portions 20 secured to the links l8, thesebase portions being provided with downturned lugs 2| projecting into theslot, as is best shown in Fig. 2. The rear ends of the flight basemembers are spaced from the flights 19 to receive a carton between them,as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The driving shaft 22 is disposed horizontally below the conveyer, itsconnection to a suitable source of power being shown at 23. The conveyerchain is provided with a driven sprocket 24 which is connected by thesprocket chain 25 and suitable coacting sprockets to the Geneva gear 26.The Geneva gear is actuated by the coacting arm 2! on the shaft 28connected to the driving shaft by the coacting beveled gears 29.

The cartons are delivered from the feed conveyer, designated generallyby the numeral 30. operatively associated with the carton erectingmachine 3 to receive the cartons therefrom. The feed conveyer comprisesbelts 3| which are positioned at the side of the main conveyer and in aplane above the main conveyer to discharge the cartons on to the mainconveyer. The cartons, as they are translated by the belts 3| with theircovers at the rear, are tilted upon the rear walls and covers, as shownin Fig. 6, by the covers coming in contact with the tipping bar 32 whichis spaced above the feed conveyer belts. However, when the cartons dropoff the feed conveyer belts, 30. on to, the main conveyor; they swing toan upright position. The inwardly inclined guide plate 33 insures thecartons being aligned to pass between the side bars of the mainconveyer.

To facilitate the correct positioning of the carstons, the flight basesare provided, and in. the event a carton falls from the. feed conveyorupon these bases it is jogged into correct position. between the rearends of the bases and the flight trailing the same by the step by stepmovement of the main conveyer. As the cartons,- are car ried rearwardlythey are engaged by the platelike cover supporting members 34 and 35which are spaced to receive the covers between them, the member '34having'a rearward-1y turned front end 36 and the member 35 a forwardlyturned front end 31'. The contents; as the pies f2, are placed in thecartonsdesira-bly while the covers are supported by the rear member '34which projects beyond the front member;

The top flap folders 38 are disposed at the rear of the filling station.These top flap folders actto turn the top flaps inwardly while the-coveris positively supported in upright position so that the top flaps cannotengage its edges. The top flap folders are mounted on the rock shafts 39disposed transversely above the way, therock shafts being provided witharms suitably connected to the link. 4| which is in turn connected tothe rocker arm 42 pivoted at 43 and provided with a cam fol-lower 44coasting with the cam 45 on the shaft 22. By this arrangement the foldermembers '38- are simultaneously actuated. These folder members 38 are,in this preferred embodiment, plate-like and upwardly curved, their axesbeing positioned sothat the curved portions of the folders. engage thetop flaps with a wiping action. The folders are provided: withdownturned hook-like tip portions 43 which engage the edges of the top.flaps, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, preventing their being swungdown into engagement: with the contents of the carton.

While the top flaps are lifted on the return stroke of the foldersthisis not objectionable as they are positioned sov that the .coverforces them down to. position and this is. further desirable in thatthey-are left in close engagement with the cover when the cover isclosed; Atrthis top flap. folding station or position the cover tuckingflap is turned to the. position shown in Fig. 3 by means of the arm 41which is. pivoted at 48 and connected by the link: 49. to the rocker arm42. This. synchronizesthe movement of the tucking flap turner with. thetop flan folders From this station or from this; mechanism, the carton,is advanced to the cover closing Stati n. in which position the. turnedtuckingflap lies below the curved, tucking flap; guide 58. The coverclosing member 5t desirably in the form of a plate having alongitudinally slotted bracket 52 on its rear side receiving the pin 53"on the actuated arm 54. The closure plate i'spivotally supported at 55while the arm is pivoted at $8. This armis connected by the link 5 tothe rocker arm 58 pivotally supported at- 58 and having a cam follower60 coacting withthc cam W, Th

further insures the timed or synchronized operation of the folder andflap folder, tucking flap turner, cover closure member in synchronizedrelation to the intermittent movement of the conveyer.

The spring 6| urges the follower 44 of the rocker arm 42 against the.cam while a spring 62 urges, the, follower 6,0 of the, rocker arm 58against the cam. With this arrangement of parts the several steps areperformed entirely automatically with the exception of the placing ofthe cartonedl product in the cartons. While I contemplate that thismight be done automatically, such means. would constitute no part of mypresent. invention and are not illustrated.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practicalcommercial embodiment thereof. 1' have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate and whichmight be desirable for thecartoning of certain products as I. believethat this disclosure will enable those skilled in'the art to embody oradapt my invention as may be desired.

Havingv thus described my invention, what I claim. as. new and. desireto secure. by Letters Eatent, is:

1. A machine, forclosing, cartons having top flaps on. their end wallsand covers hinged to their rear walls and provided with tucking flaps ontheir swinging edges comprising, a. conveyor including a way providedwith side members and conveyer. flights operatively associated with theway for pushing. cartons therealon with a step by step movement, the.adjacent. flights. enactin to provide. spaced carton. pockets.transversely spaced cover supporting members disposed longitudinally ofthe way to receive the open covers between them as the cartons aretranslated, top flap folders comprising rock shafts disposedtransversely above the, conveyor, oppositely disposed downwardly convextop. flap folder plates mounted on said, rock shafts and havingdownturned' hook-like portions at their swinging ends extendingtransversely of said way and engageable with the edges of the top flapsduring the latter portion of the folding stroke, said top flap folderplates and their hook portions in their retracted positions beinglocated closely above and extending inwardly across the top flaps of acarton located at a top flap folding station. of said conveyor, thecurvature of the folders and the position or their axes being such thattheir convex under surfaces engage the edges of the open top flaps witha wiping folding action, said top flap folders acting on the top flapswhile the cover is supported in upright position by said coversupporting members, a tucking flap turning member acting to turn thetucking flap forwardly while the coveris supported by said supportingmembers, aforwardly curved tucking flap guide disposed at the rear ofsaid tucking flap turning member and said top flap folders to overhangthe conveyor, a cover closing member disposed in opposition to saidguide member and acting to swing the cover to closed position, and meansfor actuating said conveyor, top flap folders, tucking nap turner memberand cover closing member in synchronized relation.

2. A machine for closing cartons having top flaps on their end walls andcovers hinged to their rear walls and provided with tuckingflaps ontheir swinging edges comprising a conveyer including away provided withside members and 09nveyer flights operatively associated with the wayfor pushing cartons therealong with a step by step movement, theadjacent flights coacting to provide spaced carton pockets, transverselyspaced cover supportin members disposed longitudinally of the way toreceive the open covers between them as the cartons are translated, topflap folders comprising rock shafts disposed transversely above theconveyer, oppositely disposed top flap folder plates having downwardlyand longitudinally convex under sides mounted on said rock shafts, thecurvature of the folders and the position of their axes being such thattheir convex under surfaces engage the edges of the open top flaps witha wiping folding action and move into tangential relationship to thefolded top flaps, said top flap folders acting on the top flaps whilethe cover is supported in upright position by said cover supportinmembers, a tucking flap turnin member acting to turn the tucking flapforwardly while the cover is supported by said supporting members, atucking flap guide member disposed at the rear of said tucking flapturning member and said top flap folders to overhang the conveyer, acover closing member disposed in opposition to said guide member andacting to swing the cover to closed position, and means for actuatingsaid conveyer, top flap folders, tucking flap turner member and coverclosing member in synchronized relation.

3. A machine for closing cartons having top flaps on their end walls andcovers hinged to their rear walls and provided with tucking flaps ontheir swinging edges comprising a conveyer for translating the cartonswith a step by step movement, transversely spaced vertical coversupporting members disposed longitudinally of the conveyer to receivethe open covers between them as the cartons are translated, pivotallymounted oppositely disposed top flap folders having downwardly andlongitudinally convex undersides and downturned hook-like portions attheir swinging ends engageable with the edges of the top flaps duringthe latter portion of their folding stroke, the pivot axes of said topflap folders extending transversely of said conveyor and beingpositioned materially upwardly and longitudinaly outwardly of a top flapof a carton located at a folding station on said conveyor, the curvatureof the folders and the position of their axes being such that theyengage the edges of the open top flaps with a wiping folding action, atucking flap turnin member acting to turn the tucking flap forwardlywhile the cover is supported by said supporting members, a tucking flapguide member disposed at the rear of said tucking flap turning memberand said end flap folders, a cover closing member disposed in oppositionto said guide member and acting to swing the cover to closed position,and means for actuating said conveyer, top flap folders, tucking flapturner and cover closing member in synchronized relation.

4. A machine for closing cartons having top flaps on their end walls andcovers hinged to their rear walls and provided with tucking flaps ontheir swinging edges comprising a conveyer for translating the cartonswith a step by step movement, transversely spaced upright coversupporting members fixedly disposed longitudinally of the conveyer toreceive the open covers between them as the cartons are translated,pivotally mounted oppositely disposed top flap folders, the pivot axesof said top flap folders extending transversely of said conveyor andbeing positioned materially upwardly and longitudinally outwardly of atop flap of a carton located at a folding station on said conveyor, atucking flap turning member acting to turn the tuckin flap forwardlywhile the cover is supported by said supporting members, a tucking flapguide member disposed at the rear of said tucking fia-p turning memberand said end flap folders, a cover closing member disposed in oppositionto said guide member and acting to swing the cover to closed position,said cover closing member having a plane cover engaging surfaceextending generally radially of its pivot to its swinging edge wherebythe tuckin flap is guided solely by said tucking flap guide member, andmeans for actuating said conveyer, top flap folders, tucking flap turnerand cover closing member in synchronized relation.

5. A machine for closing cartons having top flaps on their end walls andcovers hinged to their rear walls, comprising a conveyer for translatingthe cartons with a step by step movement, swingably mounted oppositelydisposed top flap folders having downturned hook-like portions at theirswinging ends engageable with the edges of the top flaps during thelatter portion of their folding stroke, said folders extending transversely over said conveyor and being disposed in opposingly inwardlyextending relation from their pivots longitudinally of said conveyor,means connected to said folders and operative to swing the samesimultaneously downwardly and longitudinally outwardly of top flaps of acarton located therebeneath, and a cover closing member disposed at therear of the top flap folders.

6. A machine for closing cartons having top flaps on their end walls andcovers on their rear walls provided with tuckin flaps, comprising aconveyer for translating the cartons with a step by step movement, meansfor supporting the cover in open position during one period of rest,swingably mounted oppositely disposed top flap folders having downwardlyand longitudinally convex undersides and downturned hook-like portionsat their swinging ends engageable with the edges of the top flaps duringthe latter portion of their folding strokes, the pivot axes of said topflap folders extending transversely of said conveyor and beingpositioned materially upwardly and longitudinally outwardly of a topflap of a carton located at a folding station on said conveyor, thefolders being adapted to engage the open top flaps with a wiping foldingaction, the hook-like portions acting to partially lift the flaps on thereturn stroke of the folders, a tucking flap turning member acting toturn the tucking flap forwardly while the cover is supported by saidcover supporting means and while the carton is acted upon by the saidtop flap folders, a tucking flap guide disposed at the rear of said topflap folders and adapted to receive the turned tucking flap, and a coverclosing member disposed in opposition to said guide member to act on thecover after it has cleared said cover supporting means.

'7. A machine for closing cartons having top flaps on their end wallsand covers on their rear walls, comprising a conveyer for translatingthe cartons with a step by step movement, swingably mounted oppositelydisposed top flap folders having downwardly and longitudinally convexundersides and downturned hook-like portions at their swinging endsengageable with the edges of the top flaps during the latter portlon oiltheir folding stroke, the pivot axes 01 said top flap folders extending.transversely of said conveyor and being positioned materially upwardlyand longitudinally outwardly of a top fiapof av carton located at, 3Vfolding, station on said, conveyor, the folders being adapted to enease.the open top flaps. with a wiping folding, action, the hook-likeportions acting to partially lift the: flaps on the return stroke of thefolders, and a cover closing member disposed at the rear of said topflap folders.

8. A machine for closing. cartons having top flaps on. their end walls:and covers on their rear walls, comprising a conveyor for translatingthe cantons with a step by step movement, swingably mounted oppositelydisposed topfiap folders having downwardly and longitudinally convexundersides and downturned hook-like portions at their swinging endsengageable with the edges of the top flaps during the latter portion oftheir foldingv stroke, said foldersv extending transversely over saidconveyor and being disposed in oppos-- 8t ingly inwardly extendingrelation from their .pivots longitudinally of said conveyor, meansconnected. to said folders and operative to swing. the same.simultaneously downwardly and 1ongitudinally outwardly of top flaps. ofa carton located. therebeneath, the folders being adapted toengage theopen top flaps with a wiping folding action, the. hook-like portionsacting to partially lift the flaps on. the return stroke of the folders.

RICHARD C. STENGER.

Betexences our in the file of: this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,916,515 Kraft July 4, 1933 2,051,339 Little Aug. 18, 19362,064,200 Ford et a1 Dec. 15, 1936 2,091,426 Benoit Aug. 31, 19372,387,674 McIntire Oct. 23, 1945 2,391,691 Engels l. Dec. 25,1945

